Scheduled start date 8/11. Main parking lot will be closed for the duration. Parking will be available spaces on the fire road, along the south side of the driving range, Lakeside Dr. and the "Bay Access" spaces along the fence in the driving range parking lot.
The project is estimated to take 45 days._________________mo

Would it be possible for someone to mark-up a satellite image to point out where launching can happen now? I've sailed there for over 10 years, but many have sailed there much longer. I sometimes hear reminiscing over launching from the tanks - when they were blue...

And any tips about launch trickiness, low-tide obstacles, etc.?

looking forward to a renovated launch! (although the timing is not great...)

Went out to take a look at the 3rd Avenue main launch situation. Although the windsurf launch is accessible from the bike path, the problem is the rigging area and main parking lot are now closed and fenced off for the renovation work. There still is limited access and parking down by the lower kite launch. Also, parking is still open along the side (but not back) of the driving range. To get your windsurf gear up to the main launch you would have to at a minimum walk it up the bike path from the lower kiter launch.

The only person not really affected, is the guy who routinely rides his bike up the path with his gear in tow. Although, now he might have to rig in the wind by the side of the path, as would anyone who is willing to walk their gear up the path. It might be possible to walk rigged gear up the path, but it might get tight with passing bikes as the construction fence line runs right along the side of the path.

Perhaps the best solution is to just launch and land off the shell beach which the lower launch kiters use. So depending on wind, it might be a choice of slogging or walking.

Of course, one could always use the lower windsurf launch by the Foster City water tanks. Just beware, launching and landing there is more challenging than the main launch, due to the often light and fluky inside wind. Also, the ramp is steep and can be very slippery, many have slipped and fallen there. Might be time to revisit Coyote or other venues for season remainder, as posted sign says project completion date is November!_________________Carve the face!

Last edited by SwellRipper on Tue Aug 12, 2014 11:25 pm; edited 1 time in total

3rd Ave Friday 8/15. Currently there are big rig trailers blocking some of the old launch parking. Consider parking at main launch along side of driving range and launching from shell beach (lower kiter launch). It's flooding until about 6pm.

Word from Dmitry is that walking rigged gear up the path to the main launch is not recommended, not enough room to safely do it with the constraints of construction fencing and speeding bikes._________________Carve the face!

When I was in Foster City working for the City I tried to instill some windsurfer sensitivity, but there was lingering resentment going back to the levee project. The City thought that windsurfers forced them to spend a lot of money they didn't need to by complaining to BCDC. That resentment may have dissipated over the years, but without input from the windsurf/kitesurfers on a regular basis or another windsurfer on city staff, ignorance is probably the main reason for the poor timing. While there is some arguement for not doing paving and other projects when there is a threat of rain, October and part of November are still far enough out of the rain season to qualify as construction period.

Suggest that 3rd Ave surfers establish regular contact with Foster City Park and Rec department and try to find a sympathetic ear.

Last edited by veterduet on Mon Aug 18, 2014 12:18 am; edited 1 time in total

Lingering resentment is a nice diplomatic way of putting it. When I got a concussion from a golf ball some years ago the city attorney sided with the driving range management. If they had their way they would get rid of us. On the good side the Foster City police is very friendly to us.

My suggestion would be for some windsurfing/kiting residents of Foster city to present themselves for election at the next city council elections or for the parks and recreation commission.

Attending Park and Rec Commission meetings on a regular basis would be a good start. Also there is a Public Forum item on the Council agenda where anyone can get up on their hind legs and sound off on any topic of city interest. If residents of the city do it, it generally carries more clout, but residency is not a pre-requisite.

(If you're not a resident just mention all the money you spend in the city on your way to and from the launch!)

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